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Friday, May 27, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW
Kung Fu Panda 2

Inner Peace Not Indigestion, For A Hungry Panda Warrior

 

Jack Black as Po and Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu in Jennifer Yuh Nelson's "Kung Fu Panda 2". 
Dreamworks Animation

by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        Follow popcornreel on Twitter FOLLOW
Friday, May 27, 2011

Cuddly, sweet fun can be found in Jennifer Yuh Nelson's "Kung Fu Panda 2", the sequel to the 2008 animated smash hit that I didn't see.  Jack Black returns as the voice of the title role, as does Angelina Jolie voicing the wise Tigress, among other cast members.  The film opened yesterday across the U.S. and Canada.

Po's new mission is to stop Lord Shen (a peacock voiced by Gary Oldman) from controlling and claiming China as his own.  Along the way Po has to uncover his own origins before vanquishing the threat Shen poses to China and for that matter, Kung Fu itself. 

As written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger the story is functional enough to marry the exploits and personalities of the eclectic parade of animals with the drama, action and themes of family, discovery and coming-of-age, and does so well.  There's enough in the script to resonate and hold our interest, and the film's zeal, energy and cheerful spirit is one of the best reasons to see "Kung Fu Panda 2". 

Children will laugh and have fun with "Kung Fu Panda 2" and Mr. Black, who does enough to make Po amusing.  The other voices from the all-star cast do well, including Dustin Hoffman as Shifu, who tutors Po in the ways of discipline and inner peace.  The music by Hans Zimmer and John Powell is sweeping and vibrant, and doesn't clash with or disrupt the film's rhythm, tone or visual splendor. 

I enjoyed Ms. Nelson's film immensely, and as its director she gives the proceedings a neatness and tidiness that makes "Kung Fu Panda 2" fresh, fun and entertaining.  The visuals are impressive, first-rate images bursting with color and imagination.  Seeing this film in 3D, as I did actually enhanced the film's decor and beauty but the images will be sterling regardless of the dimension you choose to view it in. 

"Kung Fu Panda 2" is a film for all the family, and but for one or two images it's a film for all age groups.  If you enjoyed "Kung Fu Panda" -- or even if you didn't see it -- you will be taken and delighted with this new film, a quieter, warmer alternative to the rough, rugged blockbuster fare that will dominate the summer across all ends of the earth.

For one of the few times this year in a mainstream Hollywood film -- or any film -- I sat right through to the very end of the closing credits to enjoy the visuals that accompanied them.  It was a joy to do so.

With the additional voices of: Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong, Danny McBride, Victor Garber, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Paul Mazursky.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association Of America for  sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.  The film's running time is one hour and 33 minutes.


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